Assessing direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline of invertebrates

Investigate why invertebrate biodiversity is declining across European terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Projects assess interacting drivers through representative case studies, improve causal attribution and build decision-support tools for conservation and restoration. Proposals identify either the insect research area or the mollusc-and-crustacean area. Work should combine ecological evidence, predictive modelling, stakeholder participation and social-science contributions, with FAIR data and collaboration among funded projects to support the Nature Restoration Regulation.

The single-stage proposal deadline is 14 January 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. The expected EU contribution is around EUR 7.5 million per project; proposals requesting different amounts may be considered.

An institutional consortium must include at least three independent legal entities in three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries, with at least one established in an EU Member State. Other partners and their funding eligibility follow Annex B. Applications are submitted by eligible organisations. Participant registration, applicable institutional gender-equality requirements and the remaining General Annex B conditions apply.